The next edition of the Ottawa Report is scheduled to be sent at the end of March.
Latest News
Canada announces high-speed rail from Toronto to Quebec City
Prime Minister Trudeau has announced a high-speed rail initiative called Alto that will create fast and reliable services on electrified tracks from Toronto to Quebec City. Alto will stimulate economic growth by creating Canadian jobs, attracting investments, and enhancing connectivity between major Canadian cities. Prime Minister Trudeau referred to the initiative as the “largest infrastructure project in Canadian history,” as it is a six year, $3.9 billion project that is expected to boost GDP to $35 billion annually and create 51,000 jobs during the construction phase. Construction is expected to take place upon the completion of the design phase, which may take four to five years.
Canadian Infrastructure Bank invests in JOLT
The Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and JOLT announced a $194 million loan agreement to fund the expansion of JOLT’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network across Canada. This investment will allow up to 1,500 new curbside EV chargers to pop up in Canadian urban centers. This partnership between JOLT and CIB intends to support EV accessibility, accelerate EV adoption, and reduce the emissions of the transport sector.
Federal Reports
Securing Canada’s digital future: Canada’s National Cyber Security Strategy
Public Safety Canada has launched a National Cyber Security Strategy. Securing Canada’s Digital Future will improve partnerships at all levels of government to facilitate faster information sharing, create measures to prevent cyber incidents, and support Canada/US cross border critical infrastructure and cyber resilience. Canada will use this strategy to produce results under three pillars:
- Working with partners to protect Canadians and Canadian businesses from cyber threats
- Forge whole-of-society partnerships.
- Defend and advocate for Canadian interests and values internationally.
- Advance national cyber awareness and hygiene.
- Making Canada a global cyber security leader
- Make Canada a trusted innovator that prioritizes cyber security.
- Grow the foundational workforce of the future.
- Identify and support targeted areas of research to meet Canadian needs.
- Detecting and disrupting cyber threat actors
- Identify, deter, and defend against cyber threats.
- Improve capacity to combat cybercrime.
- Make critical systems more resilient.
The report also recognizes that cyber security readiness varies across the country. Indigenous communities, as well as small and rural municipalities, do not always have the tools and resources needed to fully protect their systems and information. The Government of Canada is exploring ways to reduce this inequality through targeted investments, using mechanisms such as Public Safety Canada’s Cyber Security Cooperation Program (CSCP).
Federal Funding Awarded
Canada invests in rebuilding public infrastructure in Lytton
The federal government is investing $25 million into public infrastructure in Lytton, British Columbia though the Green and Inclusive Community Building (GCIB) program. This funding will support building a Community Hub which will replace previous community infrastructure lost in the 2021 wildfires. The new facility is going to be built to net zero standards and be fire resistant.
Federal Government Supporting Public Transit across Canada
Following last month’s annoucements of investments in public transit, the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities has continued to announce funding to a number of municipal transit authorities. Federal funding to municipalities is intended to support accessibility across cities, fleet maintenance, and the transition to green transit options. For the next 10 years starting in 2026, Waterloo will receive $72 million, Hamilton $62 million, and York Region $96 million in transit funding. Lévis will receive $1 million for para-transport and transit maintenance. Six rural Alberta communities will receive $3.4 million, while Whitehorse will get $2.3 million for transit improvements.
Investment in wildfire equipment and resilience
Natural Resources Canada is investing to protect Canadians in New Brunswick given the increasing frequency of wildfires across Canada. Through Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC)–Equipment Fund and the Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program New Brunswick will receive $40.1 million over the next four years. This investment will support purchasing equipment such as tanks, pumps, drones, and heavy equipment to ensure that firefighters are well equipped to respond to fire threats.
Canada strengthens freshwater protection through 65 community projects
The Canada Water Agency has announced $5.5 million in funding for 65 community water projects to address threats that Canada’s water system faces including human activity, invasive species, and climate change. Projects chosen for funding will be facilitated by the EcoAction Community Funding Program and the Community Interaction Program. These projects are triggering environmental benefits while increasing knowledge and engagement in communities across Canada.
Canada invests in climate change adaptation to keep communities safe in Quebec and across Canada
Natural Resources Canada announced $3.6 million in funding for six Quebec-based projects under Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) and the Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) Program. Projects funded under this investment will support Quebec regions by ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and resources to address future climate scenarios. This funding comes from a larger investment of $39.5 million though the CCAP and CRCC program intended to reduce the challenges of climate change in Canadian communities through support of the National Adaptation Strategy.
Canada provides disaster recovery funding to the Northwest Territories
Given the disastrous wildfires and flooding that impacted public infrastructure in the Northwest Territories between 2021 and 2024, the Northwest Territories will receive $23 million through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program. The DFAA program is used to support disaster recovery when disaster response expenses exceed what a province or territory can be expected to take on independently.
Funding for climate resiliency upgrades in Old Crow, Yukon
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency announced that the Old Crow Retail Cooperate will be receiving $62,500 through the Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth) program to support energy efficiency and assist with making the co-op more accessible to the local community. The Old Crow Co-op is a community-owned grocery store that supports food security in a community where food costs are typically high.
